Tool supporting device



July 12, 1955 J. P. GOULD TOOL SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed Aug. 20, 1951 v5&

l a R m 3 Q u m e W0 a 16 r e h H P j a, a a 4 A C L /4 (/2 HIl n July12, 1955 J. P. GOULD TOOLSUPPORTING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug.20, 1951 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 0 2,712,932 TOOL SUPPORTING DEVICE Jay P. Gould, LaCanada, Calif. Application August 20, 1951, Serial No. 242,766 9 Claims.(Cl. 267-70) This invention has to do with a tool supporting device andis more specifically concerned with a device for use in or with welldrilling equipment, as where parts or assemblies are being handled in aderrick. A general object of the invention is to provide a deviceadapted to be used when very heavy elements are being handled to astools, and the various elements involved are joined or connected bythreaded connections engaged as the tools are run into the Well anddisconnected as tools are withdrawn from the well. In an ordinarysituation stands of drill pipe outnumber all other elements or toolsthat are required to be handled and they are joined by threadedconnections known as tool joints. In the usual situation the equipmentprovided between the tools and the head or top of the derrick includes atraveling block that handles the line, an elevator or the like, thatengages the tool or tools, and and the elevator.

It is common to provide the hook with relatively movable parts and witha spring that afiords cushioning action as the drill pipe is beinghandled, that is, which is such as to provide a cushion when a stand ofdrill pipe is suspended in the derrick. As a result of this arrangementand relationship of parts the threads of the tool joints provided inconnection with stands of drill pipe can be engaged and released withoutserious danger of injury or mutilation.

In the usual string of drilling tools one or more heavy sections orlengths of drill collar are employed to provide weight at the lower endof the drilling string and these are joined together, are joined totools such as bits, etc., and are joined to the drill pipe, by threadedconnections. Since a section of drill collar is very heavy thecushioning action provided in the usual hook is inadequate and as aresult the threaded connections provided by the drill collar sectionsand between the drill collar sections and other equipment are ordinarilyhandled without the benefit of cushioning action and as a result arefrequently damaged, making recutting or dressing necessary.

It is an object of this invention to provide a tool supporting devicefor use in connection with a heavy tool or element of equipment, such asa section of drill collar, and it serves to provide a cushioning actionunder conditions that are not adequately taken care of by the usualcushioning equipment or hook employed in a derrick.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of simple form,of compact, inexpensive construction,

a hook between the block 2,712,932 Patented July 12, 1955 and which issuch that it can be readily attached to a tool to be handled, forinstance, to a section of drill collar, and can be easily andconveniently engaged by equipment in a derrick such, for example, as anelevator, or the like.

The device provided by the present invention is intended to be used in astandard or conventional well drilling rig, for instance, where thetools operated in the well are handled in the derrick by means of atraveling block, elevator, and spring hook between the block andelevator. In a typical situation the device is intended to be used inconnection with sections of drill collar and is not employed when thederrick is being operated to handle stands of drill pipe, or the like.

The device of the present invention involves, generally, a couplingapplicable to or such as to make connection with the upper end of asection of drill collar, or the like, and an upwardly projecting stemthat is exposed and which is provided at its upper end with anenlargement establishing a downwardly facing shoulder to receive anelevator engaged around the stem. A means connects the coupling and stemto provide limited relative longitudinal movement between these parts,and in a preferred construction this means involves a case with acylindrical body closed at its upper and lower ends by heads. A rod,preferably central of the case, extends into the body of the casethrough the lower head and depends from the case to carry the coupling.The head at the upper end of the case carries the stem that receives theelevator. A cushioning means is provided and preferably involvesconstruction that provides cushioning action between the rod and thecase. In one form of the invention this means is formed by a helicalcompression spring located in the case around the rod and between aflange on the upper end of the rod and the head at the lower end of thecase.

In another form of the invention the flange on the upper end of the rodis a piston-like structure fitting the interior of the case which iscylindrical, and packing is provided between these parts. In this case afitting is provided through which a gas or air can be introduced intothe case so that as the device operates the gas in the case is undercompression and afiords the desired cushioning action. In another formof the invention the case, cushion, and the spring construction arecombined so that both actions or means cooperate to provide the desiredcushioning effect.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fullyunderstood from the following detailed description of typical preferredforms and applications of the invention, throughout which descriptionreference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a View illustrating a portion of a derrick of typicalconstruction, showing it located over a well and showing typical toolhandling equipment in the derrick in the course of handling a section ofdrill collar, while another section of drill collar is at rest in thederrick and stands of drill pipe are carried in the derrick. Fig. 2 isan enlarged view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 1, showingthe device of the present invention connected to a setcion of drillcollar and held by an elevator which is carried by a hook provided on atraveling block. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the device provided bythe present invention, certain parts being in section. Fig. 4 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 3 showing another form of construction. Fig. 5 is anenlarged sectional view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 4.Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of another portion of the structure shown inFig. 4 and Fig. 7 is a view similar to Figs. 3 and 4 showing anotherform of the invention.

The device of the present invention is adapted to be used in a typicalor conventional well drilling rig together with parts and equipment thatare commonly used in such a rig. In the drawings I show 'a derrick A ofcon- 3. ventional form, having a floor and an open vertically disposedframe-Work 11. A line L supported from the top or head of the derrickcarries a traveling block B so that it is in line with the well W. Atypical tool handling device or elevator C is connected with or coupledto the traveling block by a device known as a hook D.

In a typical or usual drilling'rig an elevator handles the tools thatare employed, the tools being provided with downwardly facing shouldersadapted to be engaged by the elevator. The rotary unit E is shown at thederrick floor and in register with the well W. In the particularsituation illustrated a section 13 of drill collar is entered in thewell through the rotary unit E where it is supported so that its upperend is in the derrick. Another or second section 14 of drill collar isshown in the derrick whereit is suspended from the line L through theblock B, hook D, elevator C and the cushioning device F provided by thepresent invention.

The drill collar section 14 is supported so that it is in verticalalignment with the section 13 held by the table E, and in the caseillustrated a suitable sub or coupling 15 with threaded parts isprovided to connect the drill collar sections 13 and 14. In addition tothe parts thus far described a third drill collar section 16 is shown atrest in the derrick, and a plurality of stands 17 of drill pipe arestanding in the derrick. The drill collar section 16 which is at rest isshown equipped with a cushioning device F provided by the presentinvention, and serves to illustrate the manner in which the device canbe applied to a drill collar sectionat rest in the derrick preliminaryto its being handled in the derrick for connection to a part in linewith the well. In practice the desired operations can be carried outwith a single device F embodying the present invention, or, if desired,each heavy part such as each drill collar; section, can beprovided witha de vice F.

So far as the present invention is concerned the equipment employed inthe derrick for handling it can be varied widely and the particularparts shown in the drawings are shown merely for the purpose ofillustrating typical equipment. The block B handles the line L and thehook D has relatively movable sections 20 and 21 between which acompression spring 22 operates. The section 20 is joined to the block Bby a bail 23 and a hook device 24' is carried by the section 21 and isadapted to receive and hold the bails 25 of the elevator (I. The hook Dbeing of conventional form involves the spring 22 which is such as toafiord cushioning action when a stand of drill pipe is carried by theelevator. Since a section of drill collar is heavierthan a stand ofdrill pipe, the spring 22- of the hook D is totally compressed andwithout cushioning action when a section of drill collar is beinghandled by the equipment. Further, it is to be understood that inaccordance with standard practice the bail 23 of the hook is, in effect,permanently engaged with the block and the elevator is, in effect,permanently latched or hooked to the hook, the block, the hook and theelevator forming, in efiect, a permanent or normal assembly of elementsemployed as a string of tools is being lowered into or removed from thewell.

The device F of the presentinvention, as shown in Fig. 3 of thedrawings, involves a coupling engageable with or applicable to the toolto be handled, by the device, a stem 31 projecting upwardly and adaptedto be engaged by an elevator or the like, means 32 connecting thecoupling 30 and stem 31 for relative movement and preferably involvingan elongate tubular body 33 with upper and lower ends or heads 34 35respectively, and a rod 36 extending into the body through the head 35and adapted to reciprocate relative thereto. A cushioning means isprovided and in the case under consideration involves a spring 37carried by or in the body 33.

The spring is preferably a helical compression spring acting between aflange 38 on the upper end of the rod 36 and, the bottom or lower head35 at the lower end of the body 33.

The coupling 34 is provided for making connection with the upper end ofthe tool or part to be handled by the device. Since the upper end of theusual drill collar section is provided with a threaded socket 40 thecoupling 39 is provided with a threaded pin portion 41 depending from atool receiving part 42. in practice the threads of the socket 40 andpart 41 may be heavy or coarse threads, such as are employed in tooljoints, and

the parts 42 and 42 may be related so that when the pin 41 is engaged ina socket 45), as shown in Fig. 2, the part 42 is exposed so that it canbe conveniently engaged by a tool such as a wrench, or the like.

The stem 31 is an elongate, vertically disposed part is preferablyprovided at its upper end with an enlargement 5d, establishing adownwardly facing shoulder 51. In the particular case illustrated theenlarge ment, 5% is shown threaded onto the upper end of stem portion 52and the shoulder 51 presented by the enlargeznent is such asv to beengaged by an elevator C, or the like, as shown in Fig. 2 of thedrawings. It is preferred, in practice, to provide the enlargement 5i}with an; upwardly projecting threaded portion 53 serving as a part thatcan be engaged or coupled to, in the event that it is necessary tohandle the device'- by means other than an elevator, or the like. Forexample, should the device of the present invention ever accidentallyenter a well, th

part 53 is exposed and accessible and can be readily engaged by afishing tool, or the like.

The body 33 of means 32 is preferably an elongate cylindrical elementand in the case illustrated the head 34 at its upper end is integralwith the body. The head 34* has the stem 31 connected to it or it servesas a carrier for, the stern, and in the case illustrated the stem andhead 34 are joined by a threaded connection 60. TheheadSS at the lowerendv of the body 33 is joined to the body by a threaded connection 61so, that these parts can be separated when desired. The head 35 has acentral guide opening 62 passing the rod'36 so that the rod dependsfrom. the body and head assembly to support the coupling 36 at asuitable point below these parts.

The. cushioning means shown in the form of the invention illustrated onsheet 1 of the drawings involves a single compression spring 37 and thisspring is preierably a helical spring surrounding the rod within thebody 7 3-3 and confined between the flange 38 on the rod 36 and the head35 at-the lower end of the body. In the particular case illustrated theflange 38 is joined to the 7 upper end of the rod 36 by a threadedconnection 65. In accordance with the invention the spring 37 is of suchstrength or stifiness as to yield or compress somewhat under the weightof a drill collar section, but it is not completely compressed by such,a weight and consequently, when the device is usedas illustrated inFigs, 1 and 2 of the, drawings, the drill collar section is yieldinglysupported or cushioned so that its lower end can be engaged with'ordetached from an element held in the rotary table E without danger ofthe threads at these parts being damaged or injured any more than is thecase when a stand of d l pipe is being handled by the usual equipment.It is to be observed, however, that when the device of the presentinvention is being used, and a. heavy tool such as, a section of drillcollar is being handled, any cushioning a tion p i gmeans involved in ahook D, orthe like, is beyond its capacity and, ineffective.

In the form of the invention. shown in Figs... 4 to ,v nclusive,,thecushioning means involves an enlargement on the rod 36 in the form, of apiston 38. The piston in cludes sealing meansjor packing providing afluid tight seal between thepiston and-the cylindrical, wall 71 of body33. A fitting'72 preferably including a'check valve 73is provided at thelower endof; the body 3.?! or in the lowerhead' 251*; and issuch as "topass: air'or-other gas into the body between the head 35 and the piston38. It is further preferred that an opening 75 be provided, as forinstance, in head 35 and that a pressure gauge 76 be mounted incommunication with the opening 75 so that the pressure prevailing in thebody 33 below the piston 38 can be readily ascertained.

Further, it is preferred that an outlet or bleed opening 78 be provided,as for instance, in head 35- and that a closure or plug 79, such as ascrew plug, be provided to normally close the bleed opening 78. In thecase illustrated the bleed opening 78 intersects or is in communicationwith opening 75, and the screw plug or closure 79 has a bleed port orduct 90 extending through it from one end to the other. When the plug 79is seated or in closed position, its inner end engages a seal or packing91 while a head or enlargement 92 gages a seal 93 provided around theing 78. If it is desired to release or relieve some of the pressure inthe body, the plug 79 can be backed out until its inner end is incommunication with opening 75, whereupon, fluid is exhausted through theport 90. Under such circumstances, the plug is still effectivelythreaded in the opening 78. Through this construction, fluid can be bledfrom the body 33 safely, that is, without danger of pressure in the bodydisplacing the plug as it is operated. Further, it is preferred in thisform of the invention, that a sealing or packing means 80 be providedbetween the head 35 and rod 36 so that a fluid tight seal is maintainedbetween these parts.

In using or utilizing or body of air or other gas is introduced intobody 33 through fitting 72 so that the air in the body is under suchpressure as to have a cushioning effect or action as the device isutilized in the handling of a drill collar section, or the like. turesof the structure shown in Figs. 4 to 6 are concerned, they may be thesame as illustrated on sheet 1 of the drawings. In the particular caseillustrated, the top head 34 applied to the body 33 instead of beingintegral with the body as shown in Fig. 3, is joined thereto by threadedconnection 83.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings,features of construction employed in the form shown in Fig. 3 arecombined with features of construction shown in Fig. 4, that is, themechanism shown in Fig. 4 has a spring 37 added to or combined therewithto supplement the cushioning action of the air carried in body 33 Thespring 37 is a helical compression spring, and it is located in body 33between the piston 38 and the lower head 35 From the foregoingdescription, it will be apparent that with any of the forms of structurethat I have provided, a heavy tool or object, say for instance, asection of drill collar that would normally completely compress thenormal cushion such as the spring 22 of hook D, can be handled with acushioning action so that the threads of the connections involved arenot subject to injury. In a typical case such as is illustrated in Fig.l, a section 14 of drill collar is carried or suspended through thecushioning action of device F and as it is operated vertically relativeto the complementary part held in table E, there is a softened orcushioned action that prevents or minimizes the danger of thread injury.As above suggested, a single unit or device F embodying the inventioncan be employed in a rig and can be applied to whatever heavy tool isbeing handled, or, if desired, a plurality of units F can be employed,for example, one for each heavy object that is to be handled.

at its outer end enouter end of open- Having described only typicalpreferred forms and applications of my invention, I do not wish to belimited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wishto reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear tothose skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the followingclaims.

this form of the invention, a charge So far as the various other fea- 3the lower head, a threaded coupling Having described my invention, Iclaim:

1. A device adapted for use on a well tool and to be engaged by a wellelevator including, a vertical body with a cylinder portion, a rodextending upwardly into the body and movable vertically relativethereto, a stem projecting upwardly from the body and provided with anenlargement with an upwardly projecting threaded tool joint coupling anddefining a downwardly facing annular shoulder adapted to be engaged by awell elevator, cushioning means checking downward movement of the rodrelative to the body, and a threaded tool joint coupling on the rodspaced below the body and adapted to be releasably connected to a welltool, the cushioning means including a piston on the rod operating inthe cylinder portion of the body, a fluid seal around the rod at thelower end of the cylinder portion, and means adapted to passcompressible fluid into the body beneath the piston.

2. A device adapted for use on a well tool and to be engaged by a Wellelevator including, a vertical body with a cylinder portion, a rodextending upwardly into the body, a stem projecting upwardly from thebody and having a head defining a downwardly facing annular shoulderadapted to be engaged by a well elevator, cushioning means checkingdownward movement of the rod relative to the body, and a coupling on therod below the body and adapted to be releasably connected to a welltool, the cushioning means including a piston on the rod and operatingin the cylinder portion, a fluid seal around the rod at the lower end ofthe cylinder portion, a compression spring in the body yieldinglysupporting the piston and urging it upwardly in the body, and meansadapted to pass compressible fluid into the body beneath the piston.

3. Tool handling equipment in a well drilling rig including, a verticalbody with heads at its upper and lower ends, a stem fixed to the upperhead and projecting upward therefrom and having an enlargement thereonwith a downwardly facing shoulder, a spring supported hook adapted tooperate vertically including, relatively movable upper and lowersections, the upper section adapted to be supported by a well travellingblock, the lower section having a hook device and a spring carried bythe upper section to engage and yieldingly urge the lower sectionupward, an elevator carried by the hook device and engaged with saidshoulder, a rod extending into the body through the lower head, a welltool, a coupling on the lower end of the rod releasably engaged with thewell tool, and cushioning means yieldingly resisting downward movementof the rod relative to the body including a spring engageable betweenthe rod and the body.

4. Tool handling equipment in a well drilling rig including, a verticalbody with heads at its upper and lower ends, a stem fixed to the upperhead and projecting upward therefrom and having an enlargement thereonwith a threaded portion and a downwardly facing shoulder, a springsupported hook adapted to operate vertically including, relativelymovable upper and lower sections, the upper section adapted to besupported by a well travelling block, the lower section having a hookdevice and a spring carried by the upper section to engage andyieldingly urge the lower section upward, an elevator carried by thehook device and engaged with said shoulder, a rod extending into thebody through on the lower end of the rod engageable with a well tool,and cushioning means yieldingly resisting downward movement of the rodrelative to the body including a compression spring in the body restingon the lower head and a part on the rod overlying the upper end of thespring.

5. A device adapted for use on a well tool and to be engaged by a wellelevator including, a vertical body with heads at its upper and lowerends, a stem fixed to the upper head and projecting upward therefrom andhaving an enlargement thereon with a threaded tool joint downwardlyfacing shoulder adapted to receive a well elevator, a rod extending intothe body through the lower head, a threaded tool joint coupling on thelower end of the rod adapted to releasably engage'a well tool, andcushioning means yieldingly resisting downward movement of the rodrelative to the body including a piston on the rod engaged in the body,sealing means between the rod and lower head, a fitting adapted to passa compressible fluid into the-body below the piston, a normally closedbleeding means for exhausting fluid from the body, and a gaugeindicating the pressure of fluid in the body.

6. Tool handling device including, a vertical body with heads at itsupper and lower ends, a stern fixed to the upper head and projectingupward therefrom and having an enlargement thereon with a downwardlyfacing shoulder, a spring supported hook including, relatively movableelements, one adapted to engage a Well travelling block and a device,the said elements being yieldingly coupled together by means of acompression spring, an elevator carried by the hook and engaged withsaid shoulder thereby supporting the stem, a rod extending into the bodythrough the lower head, a threaded coupling on the lower end of the rodadapted to engage with a well tool, and cushioning means yieldinglyresisting downward movement of the rod relative to the body including apiston on the rod engaged in the body, sealing; means between the rodand lower head, a fitting adapted to pass a compressible fluid into thebody below the piston, and a helical compression spring in the bodybetween the piston and the lower head.

7. A device adapted for use on a well tool and to be engaged by a wellelevator including, a vertical body, a rod extending upwardly into thebody and movable vertically relative thereto, a stem rigid with andprojecting upwardly from the body and having a tool joint coupling atits uppermost end spaced from the body and establishing a downwardlyfacing shoulder adapted to be engaged by a well elevator, cushioningmeans including a compression spring in the body and yieldingly checkingdownward movement of the rod relative to the body, and a tool jointcoupling on the rod below the body and adapted to be releasablyconnected to a well tool to be handled.

8. A device adapted for use on a well tool and to be coupling anddefining a for use in a well drilling rig v the other having engaged bya well elevator including, a vertical body, a rod extending upwardlyinto the body and movable vertically relative thereto, a stem rigid withand projecting upwardly from the body and having a head thereon with anupwardly projecting threaded tool joint coupling and a downwardly facingshoulder adapted to receive a well elevator, a compression spring in thebody adapted to check downward movement of the rod relative'to the body,and an externally threaded tool joint coupling on the rod and spacedbelow the body adapted to be con nected to a well tool.

9. Tool handling equipment in a derrick including, a spring supportedhook including an upper section adapted to be supported by a welltraveling block, a lower section carrying a hook device, and acompression spring carried by the upper section and yieldinglysupporting the lower section, an elevator carried by the hook device, avertical body, a rod extending upwardly into the body and having a partthereon within the body, a stern projecting upwardly from the body andhaving a head engaged by the elevator, a compression spring around therod and carried in the body engaging said part of the rod and adapted tocheck downward movement of the rod relative to the body, and a couplingon the rod, below the body and adapted to be connected to a well tool.

References Cited in the file ofthis patent- UNITED STATES'PATENTS433,657 Riegel Aug. 5, 1890 682,536 Duncanson Sept. 10, 1901 1,474,701Archibold Nov. 20,, 1923 1,593,444 De Rigne July 20,, 1926 1,842,638Wigle Ian. 26, 1932 1,902,038 McAllister Mar. 21, 1933 1,950,882 GianiniMar. 13, 1934 2,170,057 Kerr Aug.'22, 1939 2,356,444 Bound -2 Aug. 22,1944 2,372,214 Loepsinger Mar. 27, 1945 2,500,459 Hoover et al Mar. 14,1950 2,527,980 Bachman Oct. 31, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 455,841 GreatBritain Oct. 28, 1936

